Air cleaner for motor vehicles



Jan. 8, 1929, v 1,698,679

T. F. GERKEN AIR CLEANER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed 001;,23, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 8, 1929.

r. F. GERKEN AIR CLEANER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 23; 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I" I y l I V gmmto o Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

urrao sTArs TOMAS FRANKLIN GERKEN, OF MIRANDA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

AIR CLEANER FOR MOTOR- VEHICLES. i

Application filed October 23, 1926. Serial No. 143,754.

This invention relates to means for cleaning the air forming part of the fuel charge of an automobile and the general object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is relatively simple and compact, which may be readily mounted upon all standard makes of automobiles, which will considerably reduce the amount of fuel used, which will prevent the inlet of dust, carbon, and other foreign matters into the carburetor and so into the cylinders of the engine, and which will act to moisten the air passing to the carbureter.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which includes a washing tank containing liquid with a plurality of tubes running downward into the liquid through which the air to be cleaned is drawn, these tubes discharging below the level of the liquid and there being a clean air outlet receiving cleaned air as it passes up through the liquid and carrying this cleaned air out to the carbureter.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby water within the air cleaning tank may be kept to a uniform level and another object is to provide means whereby the cleaned air may be heated or warmed prior to its introduction into the carbureter of the engine.

Other objects have to do with the details of construction and arrangement of parts to appear more fully hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of an air cleaner constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the air cleaner; v I

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1, showing the water in: let valve and its controlling means;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the elbow 37.

Referring to these drawings 10 designates a glass jar or tank which in actual practice will be about 5 high and 4 in diameter. Extending across the top of this jar is a tube sheet 11 which at its margin rests upon a rubber packing ring -12 disposed within a seat 13 formed in the wall of the jar. Soldered to this tube sheet 11 is a dome 14. The central portion of the tube sheet 11 is formed with a relatively large opening 15 from which extends, upward through the dome, the clean air outlet pipe 16. The tube sheet carries a plurality of downwardly directed copper tubes 17, passes upward through the water i which fills the bottom of the tankbelow the lower ends of the tubes 17 and must pass upward through these perforations 19 into the space above the bubble sheet and from thence out through the clean air pipe 16.

Entering the dome 14 is an air inlet pipe 20 which may be made of copper or other suitable material and is attached to the dome in any suitable manner. For the purpose of keeping the Water in; the lower portion of the tank at a predetermined level Iprovide a water inlet pipe 21 which extends upward through the dome from the bubble sheet 18 adjacent one margin of the bubble sheet and extends upward over the dome to a point near the center thereof, to a casing 21.

Connected to the casing '21" is a flexible tube 22 which extends to the tank 23 mounted upon the automobile at any suitable point. The casing has asediinent trap 21". The pas sage of water from pipe 22 to pipe 21 is controlled by a valve 24 carried by rocker 25 pivoted at 26, and carrying a weight 27 at one end, this weight acting to close the valve, while the other end carries an adjusting screw 28.- This adjusting screw acts tolimit a vertically extending float rod 29 which extends downward. through a tube 30. This tube 30 extends centrally through the clean air outlet pipe 16 and opens at theupper end of this pipe and at its lower end passes through the screen 19 and constitutes a guide for the float rod 29. This rod at its lower end is connected toafioat31. In the operation of this part of the mechanism, when the float falls by reasonof the decrease of water 1 in the tank or jar, valve 24 will open com munication between pipe 22 and pipe 21 and the suction of the engine will cause water to be drawn from the tube 22 and from the tank 23 into tank 10.

The air inlet pipe 20 may extend in any desired direction but preferably extends downward approximately parallel to the axis of the jar, as illustrated. The clean air outlet pipe 16 extends upward through the dome and then at right angles, as at 32, and then extends downward, as at 33, and is connected to the carburetor in any suitable manner.

Disposed within the clean air outlet pipe 16 and preferably in the horizontal portion 32 thereof, is a check valve 34 which is hinged so as to open upon each suction stroke of the engine to permit the Jassage of air but which will close in case of ackfiring. The degree to which the valve may open is limited by means of the adjustable stop 35. At the outer end of the horizontal portion 32 I preferably provide a hinged pop valve 36 which will, of course, be normally closed but which will open upon backfiring so as to relieve the pressure.

Preferably means will be provided for warming the air in the clean air outlet pipe 16, and before its passage to the carbureter, and to this end I provide a rubber elbow 37 which fits over the 1 brass pipe 33 and I which is connected to a pipe 38 which ex obvious from whathas gone before.

tends over the exhaust manifold so that heat in the exhaust manifold may transmit its heat to the air in the clean air outlet pipe 16 and 38 and thus warm the cleaned air prior to its entrance to the manifold. The lower end of the jar l0 willbe provided with a drain cook 39. The water tank from which water is delivered to the ar 10 is preferably of brass and is provided with a sediment trap 40 and has means at one end whereby the'height of water may be determined. A rubber pipe 22 extends from the water tank to the pipe 21, I

as heretofore described. 7

The tube sheet which is attached to the lower end of the dome and which rests upon the top of the jar or tank 10 extends beyond the jar or tank. This jar or tank rests upon a bracket 42 and bolts 41 pass down through the projecting margin of the tube sheet and through the bracket and thus hold the jar or tank in place upon the bracket and the dome tightly against the gasket in the upper end of the tank or ar.. i

The operation of this mechanism'will be i every suction stroke of the engine, the valve 34 opens and the cleaned air is drawn out through the pipe 16 from the upper portion of the jar'lO. This draws air downward through the pipes 17 from the dome 14 and through the intake pipe' 20. The air is obliged to pass downward through the pipes 17 and through the layer of water in the bottom of the jar and then upward through the screen 19 into the upper portion of the jar. Thus, the air is thoroughly cleansed Upon I and particles of dust, carbon, and other foreign matters are detained in the bottom of the jar. The air is moistened prior to its passage to the carburetor and is thus in the best possible condition for use. Actual tests have shown that the use of this washer will greatly increase the mileage per gallon, that the motor will run much more smoothly and give much more power and there will be less carbon deposit within the cylinders. While I have heretofore referred to the use of water in the bottom of the washing jar 10, oil may be used in freezing weather instead.

I claim 1. An air cleaner for motorcars comprising a tank having a removable dome at its upper end, a partition extending across the dome at the lower end thereof and soldered to the dome throughout its entire circumference, the wall of the tank being formed with a seat, a packing ring disposed in said seat upon which the partition rests, air pipes opening through said partition and carried thereby and extending downwardly nearly to the bottom of the tank,a bubble sheetthrough which the air pipes pass and extending transversely across the tank above the bottom thereof and havinga plurality of openings, an air inlet pipe entering the dome, and an air outlet pipe entering the dome and extending through the first named partition and carrying a check valve in its length.

2. An air cleaner for motor cars comprising av tank containing liquid, a removable domeat its upper end, a tube sheet carried by the lower end of the dome and attached thereto throughout its entire circumference and when the, dome is in position extending entirely across the tank, the tank being formed at its upper end with a seat, a packing ring carried thereby upon which the tube sheet rests, a plurality of air pipes carried by and depending fromand opening through the tube sheet, a bubble sheet carried by the pipes between the upper and lower ends thereof and having a plurality of openings between the pipes, said bubble' sheet fitting loosely within the tank, an air inlet pipe entering thedome, an air outlet pipe extending from the tubular sheet and opening therethrough and provided with a check valve, and automatic means for maintaining the level of liquid in the tank.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. 

